Michigan City, Indiana Department of Parks and Recreation 2017 Annual Report January 1 through December 31 Page 1 of 46 TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary................................................................................ Page 2 Administration Report............................................................................Page 3 Beach Management...................................................................... Page 3 Capital Projects and Equipment.................................................... Page 9 Concession Operations..................................................................Page 11 Events............................................................................................ Page 13 Facilities.........................................................................................Page 14 MCHS Wolves Environmental Restoration Team.......................... Page 16 Parking Operation......................................................................... Page 17 Personnel.......................................................................................Page 18 Social Media & Marketing............................................................. Page 22 Trails and Greenways.................................................................... Page 22 Golf Course Report.................................................................................Page 22 Maintenance Department......................................................................Page 25 Recreation Department Report..............................................................Page 30 Senior Center Report..............................................................................Page 33 Washington Park Zoo Report................................................................. Page 39 Annual Budget Variance Report............................................................. Page 44 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY As you navigate through the Michigan City Park & Recreation Department’s Annual Report, you will have an opportunity to better understand the wide variety of tasks and responsibilities that we manage in order to provide our community with the best possible experience. Whether it be through capital improvement projects or planning for the future, The Michigan City Park Department remains active and involved in our community providing recreational opportunities for all. We could not be as successful as we are without our dedicated Park Board and staff to serve you. The Michigan City Park Department had a total of 28 capital improvement projects and equipment purchases in 2017 totaling $2,155,206. This includes a variety of funding sources, including grant dollars which totaled $326,063 in 2017. Our Department has been very aggressive in pursuing grant funding for specific projects to ease the burden on tax dollars and riverboat funds while continuing to move projects forward and following our Park Master Plan. With the five year Park Master Plan and Washington Park Master Plan completed, we have a road map to follow and guide us through the future planning process for our community and Park Department. Accessibility has been a key topic of discussion and a focal point for our team. We were able to receive funding for a beach decking system to allow better access from the Senior Center parking lot in Washington Park to the beach. We are looking into the feasibility of expanding this system in other locations to provide better and less restrictive access. We were able to receive a matching grant for the design and engineering of two boardwalks in Fedder’s Alley. While this is currently an ongoing project, it is another example of our understanding that access for all is very important to our future planning and development. There are several other capital projects that are described in this report that I hope you have an opportunity to view. One of our most visible projects was the restoration of Bismarck Hill. Bismarck Hill is located across the street from Fedder’s Alley and next door to the Washington Park Zoo. During this project, we were able to remove invasive species and clean up the overall appearance of this beautiful dune habitat. Our goal is to construct designated trails throughout the property to preserve the long term health of the dune while allowing people the opportunity to correctly navigate the area. Bismarck Hill is a hidden gem; a wonderful place to connect with nature right in the city. As Superintendent of the Michigan City Park Department, my goal is to provide the best possible experience for our community when you visit our parks, facilities or attend our events. I am a firm believer that you must surround yourself with a good team of employees who are committed and take pride in their work, as well as the process. I can honestly say that we have that here at the Michigan City Park Department. I have had the pleasure of being a full time employee for this department since November 1, 2004 and serving as your Superintendent since December 21, 2014. It gives me great joy to see the progress our department has made over the past 3 years. None of this would be possible without our entire team! For that, I say 2 | P a g e THANK YOU and I look forward to continuing to serve Mayor Meer, the Michigan City Park Board, our staff, and the citizens of Michigan City, as well as those who visit for many years to come. Jeremy Kienitz, Park Superintendent ADMINISTRATION REPORT BEACH MANAGEMENT Beach Marking System The saw horse beach markers were replaced in 2017 with a single pole. The north and south sides of each pole have a reflective street sign with the flag’s location. BEACH LOCATION MAP 3 | P a g e Water Quality Testing and Notification Program The Park Department was the recipient of a $20,453 Beach Act Grant through The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) funded through the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for monitoring and notification activities that were conducted in LaPorte County adjacent to Lake Michigan Coastal Recreational Waters during the 2017 beach monitoring season. Water testing was performed by the Sanitary District of Michigan City. Program dates were May 20th through September 9th, 2017. Notification of test results were posted daily by Park Staff: . Beach Hotline 219.873.1540 . Park Department website www.michigancityparks.com . IDEM’s Beach Guard website https://extranet.idem.in.gov/beachguard . Beach Notification Signs (14 signs from Washington Park to Beachwalk) . Washington Park Entry Gates at Lot#1 and Lot#2 Testing sites included: . Washington Park – 3 samples 7 days per week . Stop 2 – California Avenue – 3 samples 7 days per week . Stop 7 – Beachwalk – 1 sample 7 days per week Beach Sanitary Surveys As requested by IDEM, the Sanitary District completed Beach Sanitary Surveys during their water testing which monitored temperature, waves, wind direction, rain fall events, number of birds, number of sun bathers and swimmers, number of boats, amounts of litter, etc. It is worth noting Washington Park Beach was not closed due to high bacteria in 2016 or 2017 and only twice in 2015. WASHINGTON PARK 2015 2015 2016 2016 2017 2017 Total Samples (108 days) 324 339 339 Total Exceedances 36 14 18 Total Actions 19 10 12 1-234 OPEN 89 82% 98 90% 96 89% 234-999 ADVISORY 17 16% 10 10% 12 11% 1,000 CLOSED 2 2% 0 0% 0 0% 4 | P a g e STOP 2 AT CALIFORNIA AVENUE 2015 2015 2016 2016 2017 2017 Total Samples (108 days) 324 339 339 Total Exceedances 16 18 8 Total Actions 9 9 4 1-234 OPEN 99 92% 99 92% 96 96% 234-999 ADVISORY 9 8% 9 8% 12 4% 1,000 CLOSED 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% STOP 7 AT BEACHWALK 2015 2015 2016 2016 2017 2017 Total Samples (108 days) 108 113 113 Total Exceedances 5 6 5 Total Actions 5 6 5 1-234 OPEN 103 95% 102 94% 103 95% 234-999 ADVISORY 5 5% 6 6% 5 5% 1,000 CLOSED 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% We will apply for the IDEM grant for the 2018 beach season and request testing seven days per week at all three locations. United States Geological Survey E-Coli Predictive Model This program was suspended during the 2017 season because of mechanical problems with the buoys used to collect data. We hope to resume this program during the 2018 beach season. We began participating in a USGS predictive model program in 2013. Data is input in the model daily by our staff and the e-coli prediction was recorded. Data includes: Air temperature at time of water sample – Sanitary District Turbidity – Sanitary District Photosynthetically Active Radiation – NOAA Great Lakes Environment Research Lab Northward Water Velocity at Surface (m/s) – NOAA Great Lake Environmental Research Lab We will continue to work with USGS in an effort to create an accurate model in the near future which would allow us to notify the public of expected conditions each day instead of 24 hours after the water quality test results have been completed. 5 | P a g e Outreach PROGRAM TYPE ORGANIZATION DATE NOTES Community Adopt-a-Beach Event Celebration Station 4/29/2017 Service Experts Warn About Danger of Lake Michigan Media ABC 57 5/15/2017 Media Students Learn Beach Safety in Michigan City Media WSBT 22 5/15/2017 Media Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project Safety Training Training Barker Middle School 5/15/2017 Outreach Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project Safety Training Training Barker Middle School 5/16/2017 Outreach Balmy Temps and Frigid Lake Michigan a Lethal Mix Media Chicago Sun Times 5/17/2017 Media Staying Safe in the Great Lakes Media The News Dispatch 5/17/2017 Media Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project Safety Training